Sputum-cup.



No. 807,293. PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

J. E. LEB.'

SPUTUM CUP.

APPLIOATION FILED MA-Y 1.1905.

' fNvEwroR WITNESSES @Mw X ATTORNEYS UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ELLWOOD LEE, OF CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO J. ELLWOOD LEE COMPANY, OF CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SPUTUNl-CUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed May 1,1905. Serial No. 258,233.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN ELLWOOD LEE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Conshohocken, in the county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Sputum-Cup, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to sputum-cups, and particularly to such as may be folded up like a pouch, pocket-book, or purse and be carried about in the pocket of the patient having throat or lung trouble.

It is the object of my invention to make a receptacle of the described character which will be inexpensive to make, have the largest possible absorbing area for the size of the pouch, and be backed up by a neat, substantial, and waterproof coating.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating material used in making the pouches. Fig. 2 represents, on a small scale, the blank before being folded. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the article when open. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same closed, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the closed cup with the front side cut ofi.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the absorbent lining, which may be lint, lintine, absorbent paper, blotting-paper, absorbent cotton, or other suitable absorbing material, while is the material to form the outside cover, which is of pasteboard, paper, muslin, or the like. Betweenk these layers is a thin coating c of adhesive waterproof varnish, or, if desired, rubber-cement, oil-silk, or guttapercha tissue may be used with the same result.

These cups may be made in several ways; but my preferred way is to take the sheet of cloth o r paper Whichis to form the 4outside backing and put on with a brush or other means a coat c of Waterproof adhesive substance, such as varnish, which would quickly dry without injuring the absorbing properties ofthe absorbent ber.' Then the layer a of cotton, lint, or lintine is laid on top of the adhesive material, and all is passed over a warm drum or between rollers, so that the layers adhere firmly. A substantial Waterproof and absorbing material is thereby obtained which may be punched out, scored, and folded into the form desired. Another Way of producing the desired material is to place a layer of lint or lintine on a layer of adhesive plaster and pass the same through rollers.

It will be noticed by looking at Fig. 2 that the blank is a plain rectangle except Jfor the iiap F. In making the cups the blank is first folded on the center line 5, forming a front H and back G to the cup with the absorbing material inside. The wings are now used to form accordion plaits to project into the cup. For this purpose a reverse fold is then taken on the-line 4 at each Wing, and at the same time folds are taken on the lines 3 3, thus forming the central plaits P. Each of the four corners is then creased in reverse on the diagonal lines 6, 7, and 8, forming the four corner-plaits P', which nearly meet in the center, Fig. 5, and overhanging, as it were, to lessen the possibility of the sputum escaping from the cup. The iiap F is then bent over the top, forming a neat iiat pouch, as shown in Fig. 3. The iiap F is also absorbent-lined, so that in combination with the plaits it makes it practically impossible for the sputum to press out around the flap and soil the clothing when the cup is closed and carried in the pocket. The waterprootl coating between the layers prevents the outer layer from becoming moist from use. The inwardly-projecting plaits have the advantage of presenting an enlarged absorbent surface.

Owing to the cheapness of these articles, (the cost is but one or two cents each,) it is intended that they be destroyed as soon as their absorbing capacity is reached.

I claim as my inventionl. A sputum-cup comprising an absorbent layer secured to a suitable backing by a waterproof adhesive substance, the said united materials being creased and pressed into plaited pocket-book form.

2. A sputum-cup comprising an absorbent layer secured to a suitable backing by a waterprooi1 adhesive substance, the whole pressed together to form one sheet, said piece of material being creased and pressed into a plaited pocket-book form.

IOO

3. A sputum-cup comprising an absorbent l In testimony Wbereoi'lbave signed my name layer secured to a suitable backingr by an adto this specification in the presence of two subhesive, these united materials being creased scribing Witnesses.

and foldcd'with accordion plaits projecting JOHN ELLVVOOD LEE. 5 into the cup, the absorbent layer covering the Witnesses:

entire inner face of the cup, including the A. A. BAss,

plaits. M. E. WRIGHT. 

